Davie Hires Policy Consultant

Forensic Auditor Also In Works, Town Decides

DAVIE — Council members hired a consultant to help strengthen the town's spending policies and are ready to recruit a forensic auditor to further diagnose the town's operations.

On Wednesday night, they approved a $12,500 contract with Stephens Moore Lovelace, a Winter Park company, to review purchasing policies and old transactions. The job is expected to begin next month.

Since the consultant will only help fix spending policies, council members want a forensic auditor to take a critical look at the entire operation.

The scrutiny is occurring after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested former Town Administrator Chris Kovanes on charges of embezzling almost $500,000 from Davie. He has been charged with three counts of organized fraud, three counts of grand theft and three counts of money laundering.

Councilwoman Susan Starkey said most town employees are doing an excellent job, but the forensic auditor is needed because some departments are operating on obsolete policies.

"I would be surprised if there isn't any other problem," Starkey said. "We want to know now and clean up the house."

Mayor Tom Truex also acknowledged the need to update policies.

"We have to do what we can to find out where we have the problem," he said.

The forensic auditor would investigate whether the town is vulnerable to fraud and suggest ways to protect the town, according to a proposal prepared by Finance Director Bill Underwood.

Among other things, the auditor would evaluate how the town pays for goods and services.

Starkey said the auditor also should have the opportunity to interview department heads to ensure policies are not violated.

Town officials hope to quickly receive bids from consultants and interview them in about three weeks. It's unclear how much the audit would cost, and how long it would last.

Since the Kovanes scandal, officials with the town's Finance and Budget Department introduced a W-9 form so vendors and companies can provide Davie with taxpayer identification numbers, addresses and contacts.

Thomas Monnay can be reached at tmonnay@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7924.